The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-11-24
oOR wAsHzNeroN LErrER.
peoial Correspondent to the DAILY NEWS.

Special Correspondent to the Daily News.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-The busy
scenes in and around the capitol indi-
cate that the coming session viii be an
unusually exciting and important one.
Everything Is now in readiness for it,
and the heavy mails received at both
the senate and house postofices show
that many Of the states distinguished
representatives are already here. The
new members are getting initiated into
the ways of doing business within the
marble walls Of the building, so as to
be ready from the frat to put forth
their best and most effective efforts in
behalf or the interests of their reSpec-
tive states. Speaker Carlisle is here to
stay, and is In conference with promi-
nent members Of the last congress who
have been returned to this, discussing
the make upo of the numerous COM
mittees Of the house. The contest for
his seat gives him no uneasiness, and
his numerous friends place his election
to the speakership as certainty. He
is in frequent consultation with the
president, and it is believed that the
two are endeavoring to formulate some
acceptable plan for the settlement of the
tariff question. Some members think
that the committees will be announced
before the Christmas holidays, but the
best informed say that it is impossible.
1t always happens that after the states
are made up many things arise. after
the assembling Of congress, to change
them. The views of the several mem
bers on different subjects become better
known after the distinguished gentle
men meet together at the capitol, and
| this often leads to change in the COM
mittees, generally in the interests OF
carrying out the policy previously de
cided upon. Everything now concern
| ing congress must be in glittering gen
eralities, but in the course of three
weeks your correspondent can gel
down to hard facts.
An official list of members Of the
next house shows that there are 16S
democrats, 15S republicans and 4 indie
derson Of Iowa, Nichols of North Car
DINA, Hopkins Of Virginia and Smith
of Wisconsin. In the democratic eau
Gus it will require IS votes to nominate
There are Is senators and 80 represent
atives now in the city.
The supreme court room was crowd
ed the day that Roscoe COnkling wit
Randolph Tucker argued the Virgins
hebeas corpus cases. Great disap
pointment prevailed over Conkling'
presentation of the case. 1t was eX
pected that he would make not only
strong legal argument in behalf of tn
prisoners, but also warm up with tn
subject and with fervor plead tn
cause of state rights. But tn
astute lawyer confined himself to tn
: dry details of the law, and in givin
the reasons why the prisoners shout
be released stated them as those d.
termined by his clients rather than b,
himself. After he had finished n
; person was the wiser as to his views o
state rights, and so it must be left t
, the future to ascertain where he stand
on that important question. In 10
next letter I expect to be able to Civ
you in brief the points relied on by th
: court in its decision which will PFC
: badly be rendered before then.
The postoff1ce department, for til
J first time in its history. has reached tt
point where it is self-sustaining. 1t wa
a common thing in the past for col
gress to be called on to apprOpriat
from % 600, 600 to S15, OO0, COO for def
ciencies, until last year, when it ws
reduced to 81. OO0, 900. Now it is notl
ing, and in anticipation of its revenue
exceeding it's expenditures. Unite
States Treasurer Hyatt, in his repo
prepared for congress, recommend
that the surplus postal revenues
turned into the treasury, like any oth'
public money.
Assistant secretary Hawkins of tt
: interior department says that the PEI
sion appeal board Of that Office is up
: date with its work, having disposed (
: 1900 appeals during the year, and TIL
such was never before known in Il
3 history of that department. The new
3 is welcome to the many pensioner
. and they would be made still happier
4, the pension bureau was more promI
: in disposing of cases coming before
The back pay and bounty claims
I vision of the treasury departmel
/, shows that %, 900 claims were filed
3 fore it for adjudication the past yea
Fl